The biggest question regarding the Big Ten's new bowl system is not how it will work. It's why anyone didn't think of this sooner.

For decades the bowls determined which teams they would invite. They based their decisions on potential ticket sales, the quality of the teams, potential ticket sales, the lobbying power of the athletic directors and, yes, potential ticket sales.

The problem is there was no third party to speak for the greater good, so bowls would get stuck with the same team again and again. Minnesota went to the Insight Bowl in 2006, '08 and '09; Wisconsin hit Orlando in 2005, '06, '08 and '09 and Tampa in 2007.

That led to declining ticket sales and the term "bowl fatigue."

"You look at Wisconsin in central Florida all those years, and it just wasn't healthy," said Mark Rudner, senior associate commissioner of the Big Ten. "Bowl communities told us they didn't like it."

Maryland star wide receiver Stefon Diggs will miss the final two games of the regular season, but he is expected to play in the Terps' bowl game, coach Randy Edsall said Thursday.

Diggs suffered a lacerated kidney while diving for the end zone against Penn State on Nov. 1. The junior is not expected...

Starting this season — it all shakes out Dec. 7 — the bowls will submit a 1-2-3 ranking of their preferences. Schools will in turn rank their preferred destinations. And then the conference will make the match, based on creating desirable matchups (no rematches) and other parameters.

For example, the Outback Bowl (Tampa) and Holiday Bowl (San Diego) are promised five different Big Ten teams over a six-year span.

He is Northwestern's closest thing to Deion Sanders. Chuckle if you want at the comparison, but after what transpired Saturday evening at Notre Dame, there is no disputing that Jack Mitchell is "Prime Time."

He nailed a 45-yarder to send the game to overtime. And piped a 41-yard field goal to end...

"We've never been through this process before, but we're fired up about it," Holiday Bowl executive director Bruce Binkowski said. "To get Big Ten teams back in the Holiday Bowl family is a big deal to us."

The Big Ten not only will give its teams and fans more variety, but also has added several new destinations: Miami (roughly once every three to four years); San Diego; Nashville, Tenn. (three times in six years); New York; Santa Clara, Calif.; and Fort Worth, Texas (three times in six years).

"We came up with bowls in great destinations," Rudner said. "Can't go to the Orange Bowl? Well, you might go to San Diego."

The Buckeyes need to win the Big Ten title game and rise from No. 6 to No. 4 in the CFP rankings. If Ohio State gets to No. 3, it could play Oregon in the Rose Bowl, which hosts the other semifinal. The top-ranked team gets its geographic preference, so Alabama could "host" the Sugar Bowl.

Michigan State: Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1, Orlando, Fla.

The Orange Bowl will select the highest-ranked team from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame to face an ACC team. If the Orange does not pick a Big Ten team, it will play in the Citrus Bowl. If the Spartans win out, they'll have a decent chance to play in a selection committee bowl (Orange, Cotton, Fiesta or Peach).

Wisconsin: Outback Bowl, Jan. 1, Tampa, Fla.

Fitting for the Badgers, Melvin Gordon & Co. would receive the red-carpet treatment.

Minnesota: Holiday Bowl, Dec. 27, San Diego

Nebraska played here in 2009 and 2010, so it might make more sense to send the Gophers out west — especially if they upset the Cornhuskers on Saturday.

Army (3-7) won't qualify, so why not invite the Wildcats and require they wear those red, white and blue jerseys with COURAGE and DUTY among the "names" on the back? Northwestern needs to beat Purdue and Illinois to reach six wins.